Pen-type pneumatic tool having a manual airflow control knob

ABSTRACT

A pen-type pneumatic tool having a manual airflow control knob includes a manual airflow control knob which enables users to easily control airflow amount without using any tool.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pen-type pneumatic tool and particularly to a pen-type pneumatic tool that has a manual airflow control knob to facilitate airflow regulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

DIY (Do-It-Yourself) is a fashionable trend these days. Pneumatic tools are easy to use and control, and can provide more horse power output than electric tools, thus are widely used as the electric tools do. One of the advantages of the pneumatic tools is that the rotation speed of the pneumatic motor can be adjusted according to user's requirements to achieve an optimum working condition. The conventional technique for this purpose includes a rotation speed regulation valve located on a compressed air passage to control airflow amount of the compressed air entering the pneumatic motor. Reference can be found in R.O.C. Utility Patent Publication No. 537135 entitled “Rotation speed regulation mechanism for pneumatic tools” and No. 310651 entitled “Improved valve mechanism for pneumatic tools”. They all aim to adjust the relative coupling condition of an airflow passage and an air inlet to determine the amount of compressed air entering the pneumatic motor. Their structures are complex.

Applicant also proposes a technique disclosed in R.O.C. Utility Patent No. M263196 entitled “Air intake regulation mechanism for pneumatic tools” which is located between a pneumatic tool body and an air intake portion. When in use it does not mask the air intake regulation structure and can be grasped more comfortably by users. It has an air intake regulation knob installed on the periphery of an air intake member. By turning the air intake regulation knob the regulation hole of the air intake member can be adjusted in a stepless manner.

However, the pneumatic tools mentioned above have to rely on an airflow control mechanism to regulate airflow amount. Most airflow control mechanisms now on the market perform regulation through tools such as screw drivers. When the tools are not available, adjusting the airflow amount becomes difficult. This creates problems to users.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a pen-type pneumatic tool that controls airflow output amount through manual regulation. It has a manual bar-shaped airflow control knob which is turnable to easily control the airflow output amount.

To achieve the foregoing object, the pen-type pneumatic tool having a manual airflow control knob of the invention includes a pen-type pneumatic tool body to regulate airflow output amount through an airflow control mechanism and a manual bar-shaped airflow control knob. The manual bar-shaped airflow control knob is located on the surface of the pen-type pneumatic tool body and has a bar-shaped ridge to be maneuvered by users to facilitate turning of the bar-shaped airflow control knob. Thereby the airflow control mechanism can be driven to regulate the airflow output amount.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a plane view of another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIG. 1 for an embodiment of the pen-type pneumatic tool invention of the invention. It includes a pen-type pneumatic tool body 1 which has an airflow passage holding an airflow control mechanism (not shown in the drawing) to regulate airflow output amount and a manual bar-shaped airflow control knob 2 located on the surface of the pen-type pneumatic tool body 1. The bar-shaped airflow control knob 2 has a bar-shaped ridge 21 movable by users to facilitate turning of the bar-shaped airflow control knob 2, thereby to drive the airflow control mechanism to regulate the airflow output amount.

Refer to FIGS. 2A and 2B for another embodiment of the invention. It differs from the previous embodiment by having two opposite sides of the bar-shaped ridge 21 formed respectively in a curved shape shrinking in the center portion.

Many types of structures are available to drive the airflow control mechanism 3 through the bar-shaped ridge 21 and bar-shaped airflow control knob 2. The following is one of them as shown in FIG. 3. It serves only for illustrative purpose, and is not the limitation of the invention.

When in use and a user moves the bar-shaped ridge 21 to turn the bar-shaped airflow control knob 2, an air vent 30 of the airflow control mechanism 3 also is turned relative to the pen-type pneumatic tool body 1 to change the overlapped area of the air passage cross section of the pen-type pneumatic tool body 1 and the air vent 30, thereby the airflow output amount can be adjusted.

Thus by turning the manual bar-shaped airflow control knob 2 as required, the overlapped area of the airflow passage in the pen-type pneumatic tool body 1 and the air vent 30 can be increased or decreased as desired. Therefore the rotation speed of the pneumatic tool also can be regulated without using any tool.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been set forth for the purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiments of the invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A pen-type pneumatic tool having a manual airflow control knob, comprising: a pen-type pneumatic tool body having an airflow control mechanism to regulate airflow output amount; and a manual bar-shaped airflow control knob which is located on the surface of the pen-type pneumatic tool body and has a bar-shaped ridge movable by users to turn the manual bar-shaped airflow control knob to drive the airflow control mechanism to regulate the airflow output amount.
 2. The pen-type pneumatic tool of claim 1, wherein the bar-shaped ridge has two opposite sides formed respectively in a curved shape shrinking in the center thereof. 